Muhlenbergia capillaris (Lam.) Trin.

Gulf muhly, Hair-awn muhly, Hairy-awn muhly, Hair grass, Pink muhly

Synonym(s): Muhlenbergia capillaris var. capillaris

Hairy-awn muhly or gulf muhly is a 1 1/2-3 ft., perennial grass with a large, airy, much-branched seed head up to half as long as the entire plant. The spikelets are purple. In fall the plant takes on a feathery, deep pink hue.

The genus of this plant is named for Gotthilf Heinrich Ernst Muhlenberg (1753-1815), also Heinrich Ludwig Muehlenberg, or Henry Muhlenberg, who was a German-educated Lutheran minister and the first president of Franklin College, now Franklin and Marshall College, Pennsylvania. He is most famous due to his work in the field of botany. An accomplished botanist, chemist, and minerologist, Henry is credited with classifying and naming 150 species of plants in his 1785 work Index Flora Lancastriensis. Muhlenbergs work and collaboration with European botanists led to great advances in the study of plants and earned him the distinction as Americas first outstanding botanist.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yesInteresting Foliage: yesDeer Resistant: High

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds Description: Germinates well and grows easily. Seed Collection: Collect seed in November when they start to lose the pink color. Use a comb so as to not damage the appearance of plants.

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